Drachen Fire 1992 POV (Awclark)

Here is an on ride POV of my recreation of Drachen Fire from the year it opened in 1992.

For those who don't know, I made 2 versions of this ride. One of when it opened in 1992 and one of when it closed in the summer of 1998. I made 2 versions because the ride had been heavily reprofiled during its 5 year run at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA.

Drachen Fire was a roller coaster designed and built by Arrow Dynamics. It operated from April 1992 to July 1998. There are several contributing factors as to why it closed, and was subsequently demolished, after such a short lifespan. The biggest would most likely be its roughness and unpopularity with the general public. Arrow provided something unique and much more advanced than anything that they were used to. But it seems that while its design advanced, the typical "arrow roughness" advanced to a new level too. While the enthusiasts generally already knew how to ride or brace for an Arrow designed coaster, most if not all the general public did not. After only 2 years the infamous dragon was tamed down and one of its coiling corkscrews the followed the MCBR(Mid course brake run) was torn out.

So here, we have the the legendary ride in its original form. I spent a long time on this coaster so I hope you enjoy it. Be sure to check out the Drachen Fire 1998 POV as well!

Oh BTW, for anyone who has downloaded Drachen Fire 1992 for No Limits, this is NOT that version. For this I simply took the more highly rated '98 version and just replaced the "ramp" with the original corkscrew.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Drachen
• Fire
• 1992
• POV
• Awclark
• Roller
• Coaster
• No
• Limits
• Busch
• Gardens
• Arrow
• Dynamics

[Campkillyoureself]

why its closed ?

[awclark89]

click "more info" right up there in the video information box and you'll find your answer.

[legosonic]

how do you make walkways?

[awclark89]

For this specific ride, I used the path objects that came with the "Coastersims Park Pack" which was a handful of basic 3D objects one could use to give their design the feel of being in a theme park with paths, trashcans, etc. Coastersims no longer exists however and that was the only place I believe you could download the pack so I wouldn't know where to get it now.

I create my own 3D scenery now though since the park pack was time consuming and limiting in its uses.

[DotsProductions]

do you use a mac to make these videos??

[awclark89]

Yep. I used Final Cut Express HD and Motion 2 for this. Sometimes I use iMovie too for ease. Oh and Garageband sometimes for editing the song if needed.

[Teqsinterrier]

Damn. Missed this version because I was too short in '92 and didn't get the chance to ride again till '96. Also, I had season passes for many years, starting in 1997, and I NEVER had the opportunity to ride Drachen Fire after the '96 season--I went one day that year and got to ride Drachen Fire repeatedly until my ears started bleeding without getting off...a sign of how unpopular it was. I'm not sure how you define "open" between 1997 and 1998.

[hoopsnyoyo15]

why can't arrow ever make smooth coasters!!

[Wacoswim]

LOL that music just made me high!!!

[CasperInkyMagoo]

This coaster was absolutely BRUTAL, but I loved it to death.

The ridership was so low that when I was there if you wanted to ride again you could simply stay on.

I remember them telling you to remove earrings, etc, before riding because you would most likely lose them.

Seeing this video brings back a lot of great memories of what is probably my favorite coaster of all time, despite its shortcomings. Thanks for making it.

[hoopsnyoyo15]

@legokinz lol yeah i rode it with my friends ... i am tall but most of them were short, they all had headaches when they got off lol

[hoopsnyoyo15]

@legokinz =O still i have seen real pov's of it and it still doesn't look rough... and corkscrew at cedar point only hurts if you are short

[hoopsnyoyo15]

i dont see how this was that rough

[ILUVHIPHOP87]

i was tall enough for this ride but i was to scared to go on and im pissed they took it out cause i had that chance to ride it when it was still open

[Malit38]

@time4tacos The closest roller coaster to Drachen Fire is Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa. Kumba is the way the coaster Drachen Fire was designed and having rode both, Kumba was far better.

[Malit38]

Great Video much of how I remember the ride. The details with the stations are top notch.